Osteospermum plant named &#39;SUNOST1701&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘SUNOST1701’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth rate; freely branching growth habit; undulating dark green-colored leaves; moderately freely flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with dark yellow-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNOST1701’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SUNOST1701’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of the program is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compact and uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractive ray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in May, 2013 of Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1101’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,162, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 11.30.004, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark since November, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SUNOST1701’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUNOST1701’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit.     -   4. Undulating dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Moderately freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large daisy-type inflorescences with dark yellow-colored ray         florets.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘SUNOST1101’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Fully expanded leaves of plants of the new Osteospermum are         longer than fully expanded leaves of plants of ‘SUNOST1101’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Osteospermum are larger         than inflorescences of plants of ‘SUNOST1101’.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘SUNOST1101’ differ in ray         floret color as plants of ‘SUNOST1101’ have purple-colored ray         florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the male parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent         selection have light yellow-colored ray florets.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the male parent selection         differ in disc floret color as plants of the male parent         selection have light blue-colored disc florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny Amanda’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,522. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of ‘Sunny Amanda’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact and not as         open as plants of ‘Sunny Amanda’.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have larger leaves than plants         of ‘Sunny Amanda’.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Amanda’ differ in         ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Amanda’ have light         yellow-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SUNOST1701’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘SUNOST1701’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 11-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1701’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1101’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,162.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 11.30.004,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             whitish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; inflorescences positioned above and             beyond the foliar plane on moderately strong peduncles;             moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21.1             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 23.5             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 29.4 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit             with about six primary branches developing per plant,             primary branches each with about two secondary branches;             pinching enhances branching potential. Length: About 8.2 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Primary branches, about             20° to 60° from vertical; secondary branches about 30° from             primary branch axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, developing: Close to 144A. Color, fully             developed: Close to 143C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile.             Length: About 8.2 cm. Width: About 3.7 cm. Shape: Runcinate;             undulate. Apex: Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base: Long             attenuate. Margin: Shallow and divergent lobes. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous except along             margins, moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous except along             margins, moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Venation             pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to between 137A and 141A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 143A to 143B. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Close to darker than NN137A; venation, close             to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B             to 137C; venation, close to 144B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and             axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on             moderately strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing             acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly             upright.         -   Flowering habit.—Moderately freely flowering habit with             about 36 inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—In Denmark, plants of the new             Osteospermum flower continuously from autumn into the             winter;

plants begin flowering about ten to twelve weeks after pinching.

-   -   -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of plants of the new             Osteospermum last about ten days on the plant;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About             1.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Texture and luster: Immature             ray florets, smooth and glabrous; involucral bracts,             moderately pubescent; matte. Color: Immature ray florets,             close to between 154B and 1A; involucral bracts, close to             138A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Large, about 9 cm. Depth             (height): About 2 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.9 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Diameter: About 3 mm. Height: About 3 mm.             Shape: Rhomboidal. Color: Close to 145D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 24 ray florets arranged in about two whorls. Length:             About 4.3 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:             Shallowly praemorse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Aspect: Slightly upright; reflexing with development.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 9A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 6A to 6B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to between 9A and 12A; venation, similar to lamina             color; with development, color becoming closer to 12A and             fading to close to 9B towards the base. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 7A; center, tinged with close to 194B;             venation, close to 143C; with development, color becoming             closer to between 12A and 13A, fading to close to 12B             towards the base and center, tinged with close to 197B.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 80 disc florets spirally arranged in about five whorls             at the center of the receptacle. Length: About 9 mm.             Diameter, apex: About 4 mm. Diameter, base: About 1 mm.             Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, immature, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to             N200B. Mid-section: Close to N187A. Base: Close to NN155B.             Color, mature, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to             199B. Mid-section: Close to N77B. Base: Close to NN155B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 20 phyllaries arranged in about two whorls. Length:             About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower             surface: Close to 137D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8.7 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 10.7 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect, terminal             peduncle: Mostly upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 30°             from lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155B. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color:             Close to darker than 200A. Pollen amount: Moderate to             abundant. Pollen color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on             disc florets only. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma             diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color:             Close to between 200A and 203A. Style length: About 3 mm.             Style color: Close to NN155B. Ovary color: Close to 157C to             157D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Osteospermum to date.

-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Osteospermum plants.

-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     high temperatures about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘SUNOST1701’ as illustrated and described. 